Car will not start properly when starting it! At startup, revs are not stable, they keep coming up and down, engine is close to stop but eventually after a minute (of ups and downs) it comes back to normal. If i press the throttle, the issue gets fixed instantly and the engine gets its normal revs and works properly!
I get a yellow half engine icon on the rev dash that goes away when fixed.
My mini is a 2008 R56S.
I can smell petrol -outside the cabin- when the issue occurs
Any ideas?

Car will not start properly when starting it! At startup, revs are not stable, they keep coming up and down, engine is close to stop but eventually after a minute (of ups and downs) it comes back to normal. If i press the throttle, the issue gets fixed instantly and the engine gets its normal revs and works properly!
I get a yellow half engine icon on the rev dash that goes away when fixed.
My mini is a 2008 R56S.
I can smell petrol -outside the cabin- when the issue occurs
Any ideas?

Does it take 3-6 attempts to fire up the car from cold to keep it running?
Does the car perform normally once the engine is warm?
Does the car lurch - revs dying or revs racing?

These were the symptons we had on a 2009 MCS R56.

The initial diagnosis from Mini was that the Thermostat needed replacing. But this did not fix the problem.
The second diagnosis involved replacing the High Pressure Fuel Pump. This fixed the problem.
Total cost...........a whopping A$ 1500 !!!!

that half car light means the car is in the "limp home mode" it cuts your engine power in half or more. it should also show a check engine light, you should get that checked out. there could be a number of reasons those symptoms occur from the high pressure fuel pump to a evap. emissions problem. most auto parts stores can read the codes for free.

Does it take 3-6 attempts to fire up the car from cold to keep it running?
Does the car perform normally once the engine is warm?
Does the car lurch - revs dying or revs racing?

These were the symptons we had on a 2009 MCS R56.

The initial diagnosis from Mini was that the Thermostat needed replacing. But this did not fix the problem.
The second diagnosis involved replacing the High Pressure Fuel Pump. This fixed the problem.
Total cost...........a whopping A$ 1500 !!!!

We have not had any problems since.

Note: we did not notice a smell of petrol oustide the cabin.

Yes it needs more attempts than one or two to work normally and yes it performs normally when warm!
What do you mean by "Does the car lurch - revs dying or revs racing?"
Any ideas on what could the "exhaust smelling petrol" mean?